Romex bend radius: How tight can I make it?

I have 6-3 Romex that I'm running to an attached garage subpanel. It
will have to run through a wall, then bend 90 degrees and run along that
wall exposed for about 2 feet horizontally about 9 inches off the floor.
I intend to run it through EMT for protection for that distance, but I'd
like to run it flat against the wall, or as close as possible.
It appears that the tightest bend radius I can use on 6-3 Romex would be
about six inches--which would put the conduit six inches out from the
wall. Is that the case? How can I get it to hug the wall?

--
RDKirk

"Men occasionally stumble on the truth, but most of them pick themselves

The tightest permissible bend is a radius equal to five times the
diameter of the cable. If you are changing over to conduit then
consider bringing the cable into a box and running the conduit from the
box. Better protection and a neater looking installation should result.
--
Tom

Just to add to Tom's response. The EMT (Or any other metal conduit) must
be grounded. That can be achieved by following Tom's advice and ground the
box. You should get at least a 6'' x 6'' x 4'' box though I think 8'' x 8''
x 4'' will be more comfortable to bend wires in. Also, you must strip off
the outer jacket of the romex before sleeving it into the conduit.
If you are running this in a garage only 9" off of the floor I strongly
suggest that you use rigid conduit instead of EMT. The EMT will ding and
crimp if hit by lawnmowers and cars etc.
I usually keep any wiring installation in garages up at least 4' or more to
prevent damage and because gasoline fumes lay low to the ground. An
electrical spark and gasoline fumes don't go well together. That may be a
code requirement, but I would have to look it up to be sure.
If you are using this wire to feed the subpanel you must have 4 conductors.
2 hots, 1 neutral (Grounded conductor), and 1 ground (Grounding conductor).
In a subpanel the neutral and ground must be kept separate.
Be safe.
John Grabowski
http://www.mrelectrician.tv

I hadn't intended to "change over" to conduit, because there would be
only two feet of unprotected length before it re-entered a wall. The
subpanel will be mounted flush with the drywall. But it appears that may
be my only course.

--
RDKirk

"Men occasionally stumble on the truth, but most of them pick themselves

In this case, the garage was attached some time after the house was
built. The original brick wall of the house is still in place, so the
cable will have to go through the brick wall, then horizontally along
the brick for two feet before it meets the drywall of the garage.

--
RDKirk

"Men occasionally stumble on the truth, but most of them pick themselves

Go to an electrical syupply or hardware store and buy an LB (it's a
special elbow with a cover on it). Then strip the outerjacket off the
cable and you can make a sharp bend inside the LB. You can buy them
in pvc or steel, match the kind of pipe you are using, and if using
steel pipe, be sure the pipe and LB are grounded.
wrote:

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